Cushioning and oiling means for deep-well puhps



R. M. DOWNIE.

CUSHIONI NG AND OILING MEANS FOR DEEP WELL PUMPS. APPLICATION FILED JULY12. m5.

I 1 94,65 Patented Aug. 15, 1916 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

Atlamey R. M. DOWNIE.

CUSHIONING AND OILING MEANS FOR DEEP WELL PUMPS.

Pafnted Aug. 15, 1916.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2. l9l5. wwm

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ROBERT M. DOWNIE, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO KEYSTONEDRILLER COMPANY, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, A

PENNSYLVANIA.

CORPORATION OF Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed July 12, 1915. Serial No. 39,437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. Downrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Cushioning and Oiling Meansfor Deepell Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to cushioning and oiling means for deepwell pumps, its object being to provide an; automatically establishedair cushion to eliminate the jar of pumping and at the same timeautomatically deliver lubricant, which may be in the form of oil, to theparts requiring lubrication, and which are otherwise ordinarilyinaccessible.

In accordance with the present invention, which is adaptable to eithersingle or double acting pumps, and which for convenience of descriptionmay be considered as applied to a double acting pump, an air chamber isinstalled at the junction of the pump cylinder with the well tubing,while the pump head is provided with an air pump by means of which airis forced down the hollow pump rod about the solid pump'rod when one ispresent, and ultimately escapes through the pump piston carried by thehollow rod, and, rising, finds lodgment in the air chamber at the upperend of the pump cylinder. The greater portion of the air, however,escapes and passes up the well tubing and out therefrom with the water.At or near the surface of the ground the outlet pipe of the well has anair bell attached thereto which is kept automatically supplied with airby such portions of the air issuing with the water as may find access tosaid bell.

In order to lubricate the pump rod and other parts liable to needlubrication, but because of their position deep in the well beingordinarily inaccessible, lubricant is in troduced into the hollow pumprod along with the air and readily finds its way to such parts deep inthe well as may need lubrication.

The air bells or receptacles perform the usual function of cushions, butthe air bell within the well tubing closely adjacent to the upper end ofthe pump cylinder is located in a position where air bells or cushionshave not heretofore been provided, and being close to the pump pistonsand kept automatically charged with air, such air bellor cushion ishighly efiici'ent in eliminating the jar heretofore experienced inpumps.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in'connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practical form ofthe invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long assuch changes and modifications come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation with parts broken away and insection of a double-acting pump head such as is employed fordeep wellpumps, and also showing adjacent portions of the well tubing. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of the lower end of the well tubing and the pumpcylinder with the pistons, foot valve and air bell shown in elevation.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the upperend of the pump cylinder,the air bell rising therefrom and one of the pump pistons. Fig. 4: is alongitudinal section with some arts in elevation of a somewhat modifiedform of air bell useful in the same position as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring tothe drawings there is shown a power pump head 1 mounted on afoundation 2 over a well 3 provided with a well casing A. The pump head1 is provided with a base 5 to which is connected the upper end of awell tubing 6, which latter is continued into the well to the desireddepth and there has fast to it a pump cylinder 7 by means of a coupling8, which may be a reducing coupling. The pump head 1 may be of standardconstruction and the showing of the drawings is that of one of a numberof different pump heads of the double-acting type, but which may also betaken as indicative of the single-acting type of pump head, such pumpheads varying in construction and massiveness in accordancewith the workto be performed and whether the well be shallow or deep.

In the particular form of pump head shown there is provided acountershaft 8 having bearings 9 fast to the frame of the pump head andon this countershaft are pinions 10 meshing with gear wheels 11 on acrank shaft 12 having journal bearings 13 on the top of the main frameof the pump head, and these gear wheels carry wrist pins 14 on theirouter faces in diametrically opposite relation to the crank of the crankshaft 12. The shaft 8 is provided near one end with apulley 15 and nearthe other end with a fly wheel '16, while the out-board end of the shaft8 has a journal bearing 17 carried by a standard 18 erected on the base2.

The crank of the crank shaft 12 is 0011- nected by a pitman 19 to across head movable in the main frame of the pump head and to this crosshead is connected a pump rod, 20 constituting the solid rod of the pump.The wrist pins 14 each carry one end of a pitman 21 connected to therespecp tive end of a cross head 22 movable up .and

"down in the frame of the cross head and in turn carrying a hollow pumprod 23. The pump rod 20 passes through a stuffing box 24 on the crosshead 22 and enters and ex tends lengthwise of the hollow pump rod 23,

' While both pump rods enter the well tubing 6 through the upper endwhere the rod 23 is suitably packed, as is customary. At the lower endsof the rods Within the pump cylinder 7 are valved pistons 25, 26,respectively, the piston 25 being carried by the rod 20 and the piston26 by the rod 23. These pistons as shown being of known type need nospecial description. I

At a suitable'point below the countershaft 8 a bracket 27 offstands fromthe pump head and on this bracket there is mounted a pump 28 which maycomprise any appropriate form of air pump having its piston driven by apitman 29 terminating in an eccentric strap 30 embracing an eccentric 31on the. shaft 8 The pitman 29 is adjustably connected to the eccentricstrap 30 to which it may be locked in adjusted positions by a clamp nut32, so that the density of compression of the air is readily controlled,such variation in density being advantageous to meet varying conditions.One

side of the pump 28 is provided with an outlet pipe 33 connected by aflexible pipe 34 to the upper end of the hollow piston or sucker rod 23of the pump. The inlet side of the pump receives air through an inletmember 35 connected to a T coupling 36 carrying an oil cup 37 or othersuitable receptacle for lubricant and between the coupling 36 and thepump there is a cut-off valve shown as a globe valve 38, and a checkvalve 39, in the order named. By this means the pump in operation maysupply a continuous stream of air at such density as may be desired tothe upper end of the hollow pistonor sucker rod 23, and this stream ofair may carry with it a desired quantity of lubricant from the oil cup37, which latter may be of any customary construction permitting suchcontrol of the flow of lubricant as may be desired. WVhenever deemedexpedient the action of the air pump may be controlled or entirelystopped by a proper manipulation of the globe valve 38.

Since water is pumped up through the well tubing 6 and from thencediverted to a suitablepoint of disposal the tubing at the upper end orat any other convenient point is provided with a T 40 from which thereis branched .a nipple 41 entering a check valve casing 42, in whichcasing check valves 43 are located, but as the casing 42 and valves 43may be of ordinary construction, no special description is needed. Fromthe casing 42 there leads a pipe 44 to the point of disposal of thepumped water.

On top of the casing 42 there is connected, an upright pipe 45 closed atthe upper end by a cap 46 but at the lower end in free com municationwith the interior of the casing 42 at a high point thereon. The pipe 45is representative of an air bell and such air bell is conveniently madeof ordinary pipe of suitable diameter with appropriate fittings, thusobviating the necessity of a special construction of air bell.

The pump cylinder 7 carries a foot valve 48 which being of knownconstruction requires no special description. The internal diameter ofthe pump cylinder 7 is somewhat less than that of the well tubing 6 andthe upper end of the pump cylinder where screwed into the coupling 8forms a shoulder upon which there is lodged the lower end of an air bell49 having an outer wall 50 and an inner wall 51 joined together at theupper end, as shown at 52, the junction providing for the separation andapproximate concentricity of the two walls 50 and 51. The air belltherefore incloses an annular chamber 553 closed at the upper end andwith the lower end of the outer wall 50 continued below the lower end ofthe inner wall 51 and said outer wall 50 of a diameter to enter thecoupling 8 at its lower end and rest upon the upper end of the pumpcylinder 7. Such lower end of the wall 50 is notched, as shown at 54, orotherwise constructed to provide passages from the interior of the wall50 through it and above the inner wall of the coupling 8 to a spaceseparating the outer surface of the wall 50 from the inner surface ofthe well tubing 6.

In Fig. 3 the air bell is shown as composed of two separate tubularmembers 50 and 51 riveted together .at the end 52, but the junction ofthese two tubular members or sleeves may be integral, as shown at 52, inFig. 4, where there is illustrated an air bell 49 with outer and innermembers 50 and 51, respectively, defining between them an annularchamber 53 Otherwise the air bell is the same as that illustrated inFig. 3 with the exception that the lower end of the tube 51 is inturned,as shown at 57, to more certainly direct the air into the chamber 53.The lower end of the tube 50 has notches 54 corresponding to the notch54 of the air bell 49.

The operation of the pistons is the same as usual, the water beingelevated to the surface and discharged through the pipe 44, but whilethe pump is operating in the usual manner, air is being compressed bythe air pump 28 and is forced through the pipes 33 and 34 into thehollow piston or sucker rod 23 and passes through this rod around thesolid rod 20 until it reaches the piston 26, escaping through the spacesuncovered by the piston valve, which latter is indicated at 26. The airnaturally rises with and through the water being pumped, some of the airpassing through the notches 54 into the space between the outer wall 50of the air bell and the well tubing 6. Other por tions of the air passup with the water through the interior of the member 51 of the air bellto the pipe 41 and the air thus reaching the top of the well finds itsway into the check valve casing 42. Some of this air rises into the airbell 45 and other portions of the air escape with the water to the pointof disposal of the water. Still other portions of the air issuingthrough the openings uncovered by the valve 26" rise into the air bellspace 53 between the walls 50 and 51, and since the end 52 of the airbell, whether riveted or solid, as by welding, is hermetically sealed,the air remains entrapped in the air bell and has the usual function.The air entering the air bells 45 and 49 displaces any water that may betherein and, of course, provides the usual air cushions with the airconstantly renewed so that the cushion always maintains its fullefiiciency during the operation of the pump. The automatic renewal ofair in the air chambers or bells prevents these devices from becomingwater logged.

The construction of the air bell 49 permits its insertion after the pumppistons are in place, since no special fastening means are needed tohold it when once seated at the junction of the upper end of the pumpcylinder with the lower end of the well tubing. The inflowing aircarries lubricant with it into the hollow pump or sucker rod, and thislubricant becomes deposited upon the inside of the hollow rod, thusthoroughly lubricating the rods where they are liable to come intocontact. On the rising stroke of each pump piston in a double-actingpump, or on the rising stroke of the piston of a single-acting pump, theair in the air bell 49, the air carried by the water, and the air withinthe air bell 45 all serves to cushion the impact of the water, the airbell close to the pump cylinder being particularly efficient for thispurpose. By the provision of a stream of air traveling along with thewater being pumped, the air within the air chamber or bell 45 is kept ata practically constant volume, this having been found heretofore to be adiflicult proposition to meet, since the water in churning back andforth in the air chamber absorbs some of the air and carries it awaywith the water current, so that it happens at times that all the air inthe air chamber is absorbed, and the air chamber becomes totallyinefficient or water logged.

By the present invention an air chamber or cushion is provided close tothe pump cylinder, another air chamber is provided at the surface of theground, and not only are these two air chambers constantly supplied withair and kept at full efficiency, but the water column is supplied withan abundanceof air to render the whole column resilient, wherefore thereis produced a steady flow of water without shock or jar. Moreover, theinflowing air stream provides an efiicient means for directing lubricantto the moving piston rods, thus avoiding the wear of the rods one on theother. The supply of air is readily regulated by the globe valve 38 andthe air compressor though of constant stroke is rendered by theadjustment of the effective length of the pitman capable of supplyingair at higher or lower com pression, wherefore the operator may controlthe air delivery in accordance with the needs. It will be understood, ofcourse, that the air compressor is in practice, in accord ance with theusual custom, provided with cooling means, but such means being commonlyemployed it is not deemed necessary to specifically illustrate ordescribe them. The flexible pipe 34 is demanded because of the movementof the hollow piston rod through a considerable range dependent upon thelength of stroke used. The stuffing box 24 is employed to preventwastage of air by leakage where the solid piston or sucker rod 20emerges from the hollow rod.

In the drawings a commercial form of double stroke pump head isillustrated, but it will be understood that the invention is by no meansconfined to use with such par ticular form of pump head, but may beassocated with various types of pump head of either the single or doublestroke form, since the operation and efficiency of the invention aresatisfactory with various forms of pumps and pump heads. For the samereasons the invention is susceptible of use with other forms of workingbarrels or water cylinders or other forms of pump pistons than theparticular ones shown in the drawings.

The air bell 49 or 49 is made of light, thin tubing and hence it wouldcrush or collapse under the hydrostatic pressure in a deep well were itnot for the fact that the pressure is equalized about the air bell bythe free admission of water through the passages or ports 54 or 54* tothe outside of the air bell at the same pressure as on the inside of theannular bell. This equalization of pressure also prevents the up currentof water and air from lifting the un-, attached air bell from itsposition. Moreover, the air bell 49 or 49 is wholly sepa rate from andunsecured in any way to the well tubing, pump cylinder or sucker rod.The air bell, therefore, is readily lowered into place when the waterpistons are inserted and is freely removed when the water pistons areremoved for repacking or for any other reason, and this without in theleast disturbing the well tubing or pump cylinder.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A deep well pump provided with an air bell orchamber adjacent and 'in fixed relation to and located above and freefrom mechanical connection with the pump cylinder, whereby the air bellis normally stationary and may be applied to or re moved from the pumpcylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means for directingair to said air bell.

2. A deep well pump provided with an annular air bell or chamberadjacent 'to and free from mechanical connection with the pump cylinder,whereby the air bell is normally stationary and may be applied to andremoved from the pump cylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons,and means for directing air to said air bell.

3. A deep well pump provided with an annular air chamber adjacent to thepump cylinder, said air bell or chamber comprising twotubular members inspaced relation one to the other, joined at the upper end and open atthe lower end, with one of said members longer than the other andconstituting the supporting member for the bell, said supporting memberhaving passages therethrough at the lower end.

i. A deep well pump having a well tubing and a pump cylinder'at thelower end thereof, an annular air bell or chamber within the well tubingand adjacent to and above the pump cylinder in spaced relation to thewell tubing, and means for directing air to said'air bell.

5. A deep well pump having a well tub ing, a pump cylinder at the lowerend thereof, an annular air bell having concentric walls in spacedrelation joined at the upper end with the walls spaced apart at thelower ends to provide an annular entrance to the air bell, the outerwall of the air bell being longer than the inner wall and supporting theair bell in spaced relation to the well tubing with the outer wallprovided with passages at its-lower end opening into the space betweenthe air bell and 'well tubing, and means for supplying air t the a r be6. A deep well pump having a well tubing and a pump cylinder carriedthereby at the lower end of the well tubing, the pump being alsoprovided with a piston and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bellwithin the well tubing rising from the pump cylinder and free frommechanical connection with said pump cylinder whereby the air bell isnormally stationary and may be applied to and removed from the pumpcylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means for directingair through the hollow piston rod to a point of escape below the airbell for rise into the latter.

7. In a deep well pump having a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell withinthe well casing rising from the pump cylinder in fixed relation theretoand free from mechanical connection with the pump cylinder, whereby theair bell is normally stationary and may be applied to and removed fromthe pump cylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means forforcing air through the hollow piston rod to a point of escape below thelower end of the air bell for rise into said air bell.

8. In a deep well pump provided with a well tubing, a pump cylindercarried thereby and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell havingconcentric walls joined at the upper end and spaced apart at the lowerend and there freely accessible to air and water, the outer wall beinglonger than the inner wall and constituting the support for. the airbell and with said outer wall spaced from the well tubing and havingpassages therethrough at its lower end, and means for directing airthrough the hollow piston rod to a point of escape at the lower end ofthe piston rod so located as to permit the escaping air to move throughthe passages in the lower end of the outer wall of the bell, into saidbell, and through the bell interior to the inner wall thereof.

9. In a deep well pump having a well tubing, a pump cylinder carriedthereby and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell comprising twoconcentric walls joined at the top and spaced apart at the bottom withthe outer wall longer than the inner wall and supported by the upper endof the pump cylinder, the outer wall being there provided with passages,and said outer wall being of a diameter to provide a space between itand the inner wall of the well tubing, and means for forcing air throughthe hollow pump rod to a point of escape below the air bell.

10. A deep well pump provided with a tubular air bell open at both endsand provided with an annular air chamber surrounding the through passageof the air bell, said air chamber being closed at the top and open atthe bottom and having its outer wall longer than the inner wall to risefrom the top of the pump cylinder and sustain the lower end of the innerwall at a higher level than said pump cylinder, and means for directingair to a point of escape below the air bell for the rise of the airalong the through passage and also into the annular air chamber.

11. In a deep Well pump having a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, and a hollow piston rod, an air bell within thetubing in fixed relation and adj acent to the pump cylinder, another airbell adjacent to the outlet end of the well tubing, and means fordirecting air through the hollow piston rod to the first-named air belland through the well tubing to the second named air bell for providingboth air bells with air and preventing either of them becoming waterlogged.

12. In a deep well pump provided with a well tubing and a pump cylindercarried by the lower end of the tubing, an annular air bell in fixedrelation and adjacent to the pump cylinder and provided with a throughpassage and an annular air chamber there about, another air belladjacent to the discharge end of the well tubing, and means fordirecting air to a point below the first-named air bell for the rise ofair to and through the first air bell and well tubing to the second 4air bell.

13. A deep well pump provided with a pump cylinder, an air bell adjacentto and above the cylinder, a hollow pump rod, a pump head for drivingthe pump rod,- an air pump at the pump head connected to the hollow pumprod for delivering air from the lower end of the pump rod at a pointbelow the air bell, and adjustable connections between the power side ofthe pump head and the air pump for varying the degree of pressure of theair supplied by the air pump.

14. A deep well pump provided with a power pump head, a pump cylinder, ahollow piston rod leading to the pump cylinder, an air bell adjacent toand above the pump cylinder, an air pump on and connected to the powerside of the pump head and in turn connected to the hollow piston rod todeliver air thereto, and an air inlet to the air pump having a lubricantreceptacle connected thereto for supplying lubricant to the hollowpiston rod along with the air delivered by the air pump.

15. A deep well pump provided with a power pump head, a pump cylinder, ahollow piston rod leading to the pump cylinder, an air bell adjacent toand above the pump cylinder, an air pump on and connected to the powerside of the pump head and in turn connected to the hollow piston rod todeliver air thereto, and an air inlet to the air pump having a lubricantreceptacle connected thereto for supplying lubricant to the hollowpiston rod along with the air delivered by the air pump, said air inletalso including a controllable valve for determining the amount of airdelivered to the air pump.

16. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof,concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby andextending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and anannular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered bythe pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above thecylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power sideof the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge sideconnected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods.

17. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof,concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby andextending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and anannular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered bythe pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above thecylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power sideof the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge sideconnected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods, said airpump having associated therewith a lubricant receptacle for the deliveryof lubricant along with the air to the outer pump rod.

18. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof,concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby andextending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and anannular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered bythe pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above thecylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power sideof the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge sideconnected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods, said a rpump having associated therewith a lubricant receptacle for the deliveryof lubricant along with the air to the outer pump rod,

said lubricant receptacle being connected to the inlet side of the pumpand the connections including a check valve and a controllable valve fordetermining the effective size of the air inlet to the pump.

19. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof,concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby andextending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and anannular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered bythe pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above thecylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power sideof the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge sideconnected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods, said airpump having associated therewith a lubricant receptacle for the deliveryof lubricant along with the air to the outer pump rod, said lubricantreceptacle being connected to the inlet side of the pump and theconnections including a check valve and a controllable valve fordetermining the effective size of the air inlet to the pump, and thepump having its connections to the power side of the pump headadjustable as to length for determining the degree of compression of thepumped air.

20. A deep Well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at thelower end thereof, a pump head at the upper end thereof, concentric pumprods connected to and extending from the pump head into the cylinder andthere carrying respective pistons, an air pump on the pump headconnected to the power side of the latter to be driven thereby andconnected to the outer one of the pump rods for delivering air thereto,a lubricant receptacle connected to the air pump for the delivering oflubricant to the outer pump rod along with the air, an annular air bellprovided with an annular air chamber, and a through passage for waterinterior thereto, said air bell being lodged in the well tubing aboveand adjacent to the pump cylinder for the delivery of air to and throughthe air bell, and an other air bell connected to the well tubingadjacent to its outlet end to receive air rising through the welltubing.

21. A deep well pump with a separate and mechanically unattached annularair bell or chamber located adjacent to and above the pump cylinder andfreely removable with the water pistons.

22. A deep well pump with an annular air bell or chamber adjacent to thepump cylinder and loosely resting upon the latter.

23. A deep well pump provided with an annular air hell or chamberadjacent to and loosely resting upon the pump cylinder, and said airbell having internal and external passages for the Water.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. DO'WNIE.

Witnesses:

J. WALKER VVILsoN, J. VALE DOWNIE.

' copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.

